Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP180036A
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00:31 Hello and welcome to another 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:34 We are so glad that you have joined us for our study 00:37 of the word of God. 00:38 We're on lesson #10, as we study and make our 00:41 journey through Acts. 00:43 We are on Paul's third missionary journey 00:46 which is really his last journey, 00:48 his last evangelistic campaign as a free man. 00:52 He will make one more journey, his fourth journey, 00:54 but that will be in chains and that's for another day. 00:58 I'm Jill Morikone and I want to introduce to you our panel 01:01 at this time - each students of the word of God 01:03 in their own right... 01:05 To my left is Pastor C.A. Murray, Shelley Quinn, 01:08 Yvonne Lewis Shelton, and John Dinzey. 01:11 And it's a privilege to be here with each one of you, 01:13 and to hear what you have studied and I'm looking 01:16 forward to what God is going to do here today. Amen! 01:19 I want to encourage you to download your own copy 01:22 of the study guide so you can follow along with us. 01:25 That website is: ABSG.Adventist.org 01:30 That stands for: "Adult Bible Study Guide.Adventist.org" 01:35 or we always encourage you to visit your local Seventh-day 01:39 Adventist Church and they would welcome you, 01:42 they would give you... they would call it a "Quarterly," 01:44 but they would give you a Quarterly and welcome you 01:47 to study the word of God with brothers and sisters. 01:50 Before we open up the word of God and go any farther, 01:53 we want to go to the Lord in prayer and Yvonne, 01:55 would you pray for us? Sure... love to. 01:57 Father God, We just praise Your name this 02:00 day, we thank You, Lord, that You brought us together 02:02 to study Your Word and we pray for Your Holy Spirit's presence 02:06 to enlighten us, to illuminate this world Lord God, 02:10 and help us to be able to communicate it 02:12 to the viewers. 02:14 Thank You, Lord, for all that You do for us, 02:16 and all that You've done. In Jesus name... Amen 02:18 Amen! Amen! 02:20 As I mentioned previously, this is Paul's 02:22 third missionary journey. 02:24 His first missionary journey was from AD 45 to 47, 02:28 then we had the Jerusalem Council that took place 02:30 in Acts 15. 02:32 The second missionary journey is from AD 49 to 52, 02:36 and now we begin the third missionary journey which is 02:40 probably from AD 53 to 58. 02:43 I know there's a little discrepancy on those dates, 02:45 but that's pretty close. 02:46 On the first journey, he took Barnabas with him and 02:50 John Mark and then John Mark departed, 02:52 and returned to Jerusalem. 02:54 On the second journey, he took Silas with him and when they got 02:59 to Lystra, Timothy joined the group, 03:01 and they went there together. 03:03 On this journey, the third journey, from the Scripture 03:07 it just says, "He departed," but we know that 03:10 Timothy joins him in Ephesus, and we also know that 03:14 Aquila and Priscilla are with him during that time. 03:17 We have Luke joining him at least by Troas because 03:19 it says, "we" at that point and then we know many of 03:23 the believers from Thessalonica and Phrygia 03:26 and some of those other places, they journeyed with him 03:30 on the way back as well. 03:32 If you look at the mileage, the first journey was about 03:37 1,200 miles; the second missionary journey over 03:40 2,700 miles; the third missionary journey 03:44 is between 2,500 and 3,000 miles, so he traveled 03:47 far to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 03:52 The last lesson, when we did the second mission journey, 03:56 I did a map, Pastor C.A., with my hands here. 03:59 Hopefully, we can do this again for you at home. 04:02 If you look here and you would think this is Palestine, okay... 04:05 Jerusalem is about here and if you travel 300 miles 04:09 north, you get to Antioch. 04:11 Now Antioch is where all three of the missionary journeys 04:14 began from. 04:15 If you head west, the first missionary journey, they went 04:18 by sea to the Island of Cypress, then they went north 04:21 to what we would call modern-day Turkey, 04:24 and they went to Iconium and Lystra and Derbe, 04:27 and all those cities - preaching the gospel, 04:30 and then they returned back to Antioch. 04:33 On the second journey, they did the land route. 04:36 They started at Antioch instead of going by sea to Turkey, 04:39 they went around the land here and they visited all those 04:43 cities, and then received the call, "Come over to Macedonia 04:47 and help us, and they went over by sea from Troas, 04:51 they went over here and this is modern-day Greece, 04:54 and there went to Athens; they went to Corinth; 04:57 they went to Berea, Philippi, all of those places. 05:00 On this journey, the third missionary journey, 05:04 they go by land again... 05:05 So they're going to take the journey from Antioch, 05:07 up over by land, strengthening the churches in here. 05:11 Then Paul makes kind of a long stop at Ephesus; spends quite a 05:15 while at Ephesus; they go over the sea from Troas 05:19 over to Athens and Corinth and some of those cities there 05:23 in Greece, then they come back through Miletus and then they go 05:27 back to Caesarea and Jerusalem. 05:30 So that's kind of an overview of 05:32 the three missionary journeys. 05:34 And on this missionary journey, the third missionary journey 05:38 of Paul, he wrote the Books of first and second Corinthians 05:40 as well as the Book of Romans. 05:44 Let's look at our memory text, 05:46 and then we'll jump into Sunday. 05:48 Our memory text is Acts 20:24, it's from the 05:53 New Revised Standard Version and I want to encourage you 05:56 at home to read along with us... 05:57 "I do not count my life of any value to myself, 06:02 if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received 06:07 from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news 06:12 of God's grace." Amen! 06:14 So Paul is beginning his journey here. 06:17 We're in Acts 18:23, let's actually begin in 06:23 the end of verse 22 because it shows you he begins 06:25 this third missionary journey from Antioch. 06:28 At the end of 22 it says... "He went down to Antioch." 06:31 Verse 23... After he had spent some time there, 06:35 he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia 06:38 in order, strengthening all the disciples." 06:41 This was that land route he went up and he was strengthening 06:44 all those churches that he had been to before. 06:46 Now we kinda take a little digression and what Luke is 06:50 doing here is saying, "While Paul is strengthening those 06:52 believers in Galatia and Phrygia, a gentleman by the name 06:56 of Apollos is actually in Ephesus... 06:59 we see this in verse 24. 07:01 Now a certain Jew named "Apollos," born in Alexandria, 07:05 an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 07:09 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, 07:12 and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and talked 07:14 accurately the things of the Lord though he knew 07:17 only the baptism of John." 07:20 Now this gentleman, Apollos, was well-educated. 07:24 He knew the Scriptures well and he believed in Jesus Christ, 07:29 but he only knew the baptism of John. 07:32 He was not fully educated. 07:34 He didn't know all of the truth yet. 07:37 He was obviously a Hellenistic Jew, having come from 07:41 Alexandria - he was not born in Palestine, 07:44 and he was a Greek-speaking Jew who became a Christian. 07:48 Alexandria is the second largest city of the Roman Empire, 07:51 the first being Rome, Alexandria being the second. 07:54 And so, Aquila and Priscilla, we met them last week; 07:58 they were great friends of the Apostle Paul. 08:01 He had left them in Ephesus and they took it upon themselves 08:04 to instruct him a little more fully, Pastor C.A. 08:06 in the way here. 08:08 So, we see in verse 26, "Apollos began to speak 08:11 boldly in the synagogue." 08:13 "When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside 08:16 and explained to him the way of God more accurately, 08:19 and when he desired to go to Achaia, the brethren 08:22 wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him... 08:25 this is over to Greece, this is where Corinth is... 08:28 and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had 08:31 believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted 08:35 the Jews publically showing from the Scriptures 08:37 that Jesus is the Christ." 08:39 So he was an able defender, you could say... 08:43 of the Christian belief, of the Apostolic Church. 08:47 In fact, he became so well known and influential 08:50 we get down to 1 Corinthians 1:11-13, where Paul writes... 08:55 "There are contentions among you. 08:58 Now I say that each of you says, "I am of Paul," 09:01 or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," 09:05 ... which would be Peter... or "I am of Christ." 09:08 Then he says, "Is Christ divided? 09:10 Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized 09:14 in the name of Paul." 09:16 So, people almost felt like they're a follower of 09:18 either Apollos or Paul. 09:20 There was created some almost a division in the early 09:23 church because of this. 09:24 Almost as if today we would say, "I am of Rafferty," 09:27 or "I am of Batchelor," or "I am of Murray," 09:31 instead of saying, "We are all disciples of the Lord Jesus 09:34 Christ," and God uses different teachers. 09:37 But we are all students of the word we are to be 09:40 students of the word as the Bereans were. 09:42 Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 3:5-6... 09:45 "Who then is Paul and who is Apollos, 09:47 but ministers through whom you believed, 09:50 as the Lord gave to each one." 09:52 I planted, Apollos watered, but who gives the increase? GOD! 09:57 GOD gives the increase! 10:00 Now we turn over to Paul, he arrives in Ephesus. 10:05 We are in Acts 18... Acts 19, I'm sorry. 10:09 Acts 19:1... "And it happened while Apollos 10:13 was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper 10:17 regions, came to Ephesus. ...and he finds some disciples 10:20 in Ephesus who believe something similar to what 10:23 Apollos had believed... 10:25 And finding some disciples he said to them, "Did you receive 10:28 the Holy Spirit when you believed?" 10:30 And they said, "We have not so much as even heard whether 10:34 there be a Holy Spirit." 10:37 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" 10:39 And they said, "Into John's baptism." 10:42 That was all the light that they had at that time. 10:45 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of 10:49 repentance, saying to the people that they should believe 10:51 on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 10:55 When they heard this, they were baptized 10:58 in the name of the Lord Jesus. 11:00 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit 11:04 came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 11:07 Now the men there were 12 in all." 11:10 Now in my remaining time, I want to do four take-aways 11:14 before I pass it over to Pastor C.A. in Ephesus. 11:17 Four take-aways from Apollos and Paul that I get from this... 11:21 #1... Leaders can unknowingly or unintentionally cause pride 11:28 and discord among their followers. 11:31 Paul and Apollos almost became so of flashpoint for people, 11:35 and they became puffed up in favor of "I am of Paul" 11:38 or "I am of Apollos." 11:40 These two leaders almost became the occasion for causing 11:44 a little bit of division - even though they were not intending 11:47 that to take place. 11:49 So if that is happening, if you're a follower, 11:54 re-adjust how you look as leaders. 11:57 1 Corinthians 3:5... Paul says, "Who then is Paul, 12:02 and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom 12:06 you believed." 12:08 Now the word "ministers" there is interesting, it's diakonos 12:11 in the Greek and it means a servant, literally a table 12:17 waiter, so when I read this, I see Paul saying 12:22 I'm not the head of the table, I'm not the owner of the house, 12:25 I didn't even make the food; all I'm doing is waiting at the 12:29 table; I am a leader, yes, but I am a servant." 12:35 So re-adjust how you look at leaders and understand that 12:38 they are to be servant-leaders. Amen! 12:40 And, if you are a leader, re-adjust how you look at 12:44 yourself. Mark 10:45... 12:48 Jesus speaking..."For the Son of Man came not to be served, 12:52 but to serve others." 12:55 #2... Acknowledge that God assigns the response 12:59 in the heart... what do I mean by that? 13:02 1 Corinthians 3 again, verses 5-6... 13:05 "Who then is Paul, who is Apollos, but ministers 13:09 through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one. 13:13 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." 13:20 If you detect a difference in who responds in faith 13:23 to Paul and Apollos, the Lord is the One 13:26 who made that difference. 13:27 What I mean by that is, I could be saying... 13:30 "Shelley preaches and that really ministers to me." 13:34 And someone else preaches and that doesn't minister to me 13:37 as much," as it were. 13:39 Now what could I be thinking in my human mind? 13:41 Well Shelley is a better minister. 13:43 The difference is not the speaker, it's not this speaker 13:45 or that speaker; the difference is in God. 13:48 He is the One who gives the faith; He is the One who 13:51 gives the response in the believer's heart 13:54 to respond to the message. 13:56 #3... Understand your proper relation perspective 14:01 in relationship to God. 14:03 1 Corinthians 3:7 again... "So then neither he 14:06 who plants is anything, nor he who waters, 14:09 but God who gives the increase." 14:12 God is the One who works, He is the One who gives 14:14 any increase, He is the One who dispenses faith, 14:17 who effects change and conversion. 14:20 We are just instruments in His hands. Amen! 14:24 And finally, recognize that all workers whether leaders 14:27 or followers - everybody, we are all one. 14:32 1 Corinthians 3:8... "Now he who plants, 14:34 and he who waters are one, and each one will receive 14:38 his own reward according to his own labor." 14:42 Amen! Pastor C.A. 14:44 Beautifully done, beautifully done! 14:45 We are centering again our focus on Ephesus, 14:51 and Paul's methodology there. 14:54 I want to go to Acts 19, and I'll read 14:58 just a couple of verses 8 through 10, I suspect. 15:01 Acts 19 beginning at verse 8... "And he went into the 15:06 synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, 15:10 reasoning and persuading concerning the things 15:13 of the kingdom of God. 15:14 But when some were hardened and did not believe, 15:19 but spoke evil of the Way ...this is the terminology 15:23 that they were using at this point in time... 15:25 before the multitude, he departed from them 15:28 and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily 15:32 in the school of Tyrannus." 15:34 We see a couple of things here... 15:37 Paul is returning to his time-worn methodology. 15:42 It was his well-established practice to go to the synagogue, 15:46 begin there and then sort of branch out from there. 15:49 But we are also seeing parallel to this that when there is 15:56 a pushback or rejection at the synagogue, 15:59 Paul quickly pivots and then moves into the 16:02 heart of his mission. 16:03 I think he is realizing now, of course, the Spirit is 16:07 prompting him. 16:09 The gospel has got to go, it has to go out. 16:12 So, if you are getting pushback resistance, even death threats, 16:16 and murder plots among the Jewish people, 16:20 then go to the wider group and begin to do 16:23 your work of the Lord. 16:24 But he did reason in the synagogue for three months, 16:28 so he spent a good amount of time there... 16:30 He didn't just come and preach and leave, but he spent 16:32 a good amount of time there. 16:34 In Acts 19:11, well let's just take a look at that, 11 and 12. 16:43 "Now God worked unusual miracles 16:46 at the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs 16:50 or aprons were brought from his body to the sick 16:54 and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits 16:58 went out from them." 17:00 This is interesting... because God is working some things here 17:07 at Ephesus that we don't really see 17:09 anyplace else in the New Testament, this idea of 17:12 physical objects being used to bless and, of course, the Lord 17:18 through the Holy Spirit is directly empowered to 17:20 do these things, but this is the kind of thing that is 17:22 kind of dangerous sometimes. 17:24 It can be dangerous because those objects themselves 17:28 can become objects of worship. 17:30 But Luke is saying here these are unusual miracles, 17:35 this is something special for this time, for this place, 17:40 this idea of using physical objects to be a channel 17:43 of blessing as it were in the ministry of Paul. 17:47 Evidently, the Ephesians were highly impressed by these 17:53 kinds of miracles and we said this in response to 17:57 Acts 1:8 when the disciples, the apostles were 18:02 invested with power, dunamis power, miracle power, 18:06 physical ability to get the job done. 18:09 We see in the different cities and in the different places, 18:12 God is using his people in such a way as to impress 18:17 the people that they are trying to win to the Lord. 18:20 And whatever way they have to nuance the gospel to meet 18:25 those conditions, that is what they're doing. 18:27 So we see something being done here in Ephesus 18:30 that I don't recall, ladies and gentleman, being repeated 18:35 anyplace else in the New Testament. 18:36 This was something for Ephesus. Yes 18:38 And one of the things that we don't want to do is take 18:41 something that is done in one place and try to make that 18:43 a pattern for everywhere. 18:52 The things that happened in Corinth, 18:53 that's not a pattern for everywhere. 18:55 The things that happened in Rome - not a pattern 18:57 for everywhere and some of the other places. 18:58 But God nuances the gospel to meet the needs of those 19:02 that He is trying to win to the gospel, 19:05 so some extraordinary things are being done. 19:09 The corollary of the lesson is the woman 19:13 with the issue of blood when she touched 19:14 Christ - the hem of His garment. 19:18 A singular event not to be repeated anywhere else 19:22 in the New Testament, a singular event. 19:24 What I like about this Shelley and Yvonne, and Johnny and Jill, 19:29 is that God will give you what you need when you need it. 19:32 If you're a sincere seeker, God will give you the gospel 19:36 in such a way that it will resonate 19:38 with your particular heart. 19:40 Different things impress different people, 19:43 and that's why I was saying, some weeks ago, 19:45 that there is a science, Shelley, to evangelism. Yes. 19:50 Because not one size fits all, but it has to tweaked, 19:53 dare I say, to meet the needs of those... 19:56 These people in Ephesus were a particular group of people 19:58 and we're going to see in just a moment - kind of excitable also. 20:03 So God tweaked the gospel. 20:06 He put the wine in the different wine skins 20:08 in an attempt to win these people to the Lord. 20:11 And that's one of the things that's so exciting about 20:13 studying the works in the Book of Acts. 20:17 This divergence of gifts that God employed including 20:24 tongues to get the people to hear the gospel. 20:28 And I don't want to lose my place here... 20:29 So, we come now to the Demetrius controversy. 20:33 Demetrius is a silversmith who made silver shrines. 20:38 These were little idols that he was making 20:40 for the people to pray to. 20:43 He brought some of his other entrepreneurs together, 20:47 and one of the things that got Paul into hot water 20:51 was the straight preaching of the gospel because 20:54 it cut across the financial stability of a lot of people. 21:00 If you're making idols, you're going to be in trouble. 21:03 If you're, you know, doing other kinds of things... if you're 21:06 a butcher shop selling pork you're going to be in trouble, 21:09 you know, these kinds of things, so now we've got this 21:13 Demetrius - he's a seller of shrines dedicated to Diana. 21:18 Paul's preaching is cutting into his profit margin 21:21 plain and simple - this is a financial thing. 21:23 His bottom line is being affected. 21:26 Paul is persuading people that gods made with hands 21:31 cannot be gods. 21:32 You know, you put something in a furnace and it comes out 21:34 and then you would sit and pray to that thing to help you, 21:37 you made that... how can that help you? 21:39 And really, Paul is saying, "These are not gods, 21:43 you made that thing, how can that be your god?" 21:45 So Demetrius is saying, here's our problem... 21:49 "If he's going to disparage our little gods and shrines, 21:52 pretty soon, this big, beautiful temple that we have 21:55 of Diana is doing to be in ruins. 21:57 We're going to lose our money, it's going to be disrespected, 22:00 and it's going to be destroyed." 22:04 So basically, a riot broke out, this is Ephesus. 22:08 A riot broke out, Gaius and Aristarchus, 22:12 Paul's companions were seized and the people began to 22:17 shout at them and to shove them. 22:20 So for two hours there was this shouting match going 22:23 back and forth, you know. 22:25 Alexander gets manhandled... Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 22:29 There is a theater where they met and, Shelley, 22:34 we've all been to Palestine; we've seen these big theaters. 22:38 This one holds 24,000 people, it was a big theater. 22:42 And there was this shouting and shoving going on, 22:44 and Paul wants to go in there and address them. 22:47 And the brethren were saying... "We don't think you 22:49 ought to do that." Laughter... 22:51 This time maybe he was saying, these people are mad, 22:53 and they're upset and you are cutting into their bottom line, 22:56 this is not the time for you to go trotting in there 22:58 and trying to do it. 23:00 One of the things we can say about Paul... 23:02 Paul was an intrepid stalwart soldier for the Lord. Yes. 23:05 Paul didn't fear much and he had the stripes to prove it. 23:09 He had the Pedigree to prove it and, you know, 23:12 when you go for the Lord, now I'm looking at my time... 23:16 you don't have to fear, because we serve a God who 23:19 can do anything but fail! That's right! 23:22 The one thing He cannot do is fail. 23:23 And so, Paul was persuaded not to go and the clerk of the town 23:30 came out and sort of quieted the group and finally 23:34 the assembly was dismissed. 23:37 But the work in Ephesus continued to grow. 23:41 Paul did a wonderful work for the Lord. 23:43 I'm resisting the predilection to leap into Shelley's area, 23:48 so I think I will stop here and let you pick it up from here. 23:51 That sounds - I'm glad you did! 23:55 Okay, I have Tuesday's lesson and this is 23:58 in Acts 20, we'll be talking about Troas. 24:02 After the riot, Paul resolves to leave Ephesus and he takes 24:07 a detour through Macedonia and Achaia instead of going 24:10 straight to Jerusalem, but he brings some 24:13 representatives from the Gentile churches with him, 24:17 and they head for Troas. 24:18 In Acts 20:6, it says, "We sailed away from 24:22 Philippi and in five days, it later on says that he 24:26 joined them at Troas where we stayed for seven days. 24:29 So how long are they in Troas? Seven days. 24:35 We will be looking at Acts 20:7-12... 24:40 But before we read that, I want to just set something up 24:43 because this little passage is what some people use 24:47 to try to prove that the Sabbath of the Lord 24:51 was changed to Sunday. 24:52 First of all, the Seventh-day Sabbath is mentioned 24:57 in the New Testament 59 times, in the New Testament. 25:02 The phrase "the first day of the week," I mean it's not even 25:07 given a name other than "the first day 25:09 of the week," that's Sunday. 25:11 It is only used eight times, the phrase, 25:15 "the first day of the week." 25:16 Five of those times is in reference to the very same 25:20 event and that is when the women were coming to the 25:24 tomb after Christ's death. 25:28 And what happened was... I mean, they were anxious to 25:31 anoint Him on Friday, but they went home 25:33 and "rested," Luke says, in obedience 25:36 to the commandment on Sabbath and then they come 25:38 back, so five of those phrases are there. 25:40 Now, there's only three more and I want to read them... 25:43 I'll give you the references: John 20:19... This is when the 25:48 trembling disciples of Christ, on resurrection Sunday, 25:53 are behind closed doors, they're barred for fear of the 25:58 Jews - I mean, it says, "The doors are barred shut 26:02 for fears of the Jews." 26:03 They didn't understand that Jesus had resurrected, 26:06 all they're thinking of is, "Mercy, they could come 26:09 get us," right? 26:10 So this gathering started as a very solemn event. 26:16 There was NO evidence that this was a worship service, 26:20 not until Christ showed up. 26:22 1 Corinthians 16:2, is the other first day of the week phrase. 26:28 And here Paul is telling people to lay by them something 26:32 in store for a particular mission that he has. 26:39 He's instructing them to set aside an offering in their home. 26:45 Now listen, the offerings, these weren't necessarily 26:48 money - this was grain, this was all kinds of different things. 26:51 He was going to take them to the famine-stricken 26:53 believers in Jerusalem, right? 26:55 Where was that reference again, please? 1 Corinthians 16:2. 26:58 And so he wanted these contributions 27:02 ready when he arrived. 27:03 Alright, so that's two, we've only got one more 27:06 first day of the week phrase, and that is Acts 20:7-12... 27:12 Now here we go! 27:15 He said, Acts 20:7... "Now on the first day of the 27:18 week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, 27:22 ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued 27:26 his message until midnight." 27:28 He's got a lot to say, huh? 27:30 The commentators are divided, whether this was 27:32 Saturday evening or Sunday evening. 27:35 Depends on - it would be Saturday to use the Jewish 27:37 reckoning of time. 27:39 It would have been Sunday evening if they were using 27:42 the Roman reckoning of time. 27:44 Some people try to make this that's it's a worship service, 27:47 like a Sunday worship service and this is communion... 27:50 it's possible - when it's talking about breaking bread 27:53 it's communion, but I want to read something... 27:55 Acts 2:44-46... Says, "Now all who believed 27:59 were together and had all things in common and sold 28:01 their possessions and goods, and divided them among all 28:04 as anyone had need. 28:06 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, 28:09 and breaking bread from house to house... 28:12 this is talking about regular meals... 28:14 they ate the food with gladness and simplicity of heart." 28:18 Have you heard of Augustus Neander? 28:21 He was an imminent German Bible historian. 28:24 He lived 1789-1850. 28:27 On this particular passage... you know when people 28:31 try to make this passage of Acts 20:7-12, that it's a 28:35 worship service - here's what he says... 28:37 "This passage is not entirely convincing because 28:40 of the impending departure of the apostle may have united 28:44 the little church in a brotherly parting meal 28:48 on occasion of which the apostle delivered his last address, 28:51 although there was no particular celebration of 28:55 a Sunday in this case." 28:56 So Paul had been in Troas how many days? Seven! 29:00 He had met with the disciples, no doubt, the believers 29:03 pretty often in those seven days, but what's happening 29:08 the disciples are having this farewell meeting; 29:10 Paul has got a lot he wants to tell them before he takes off, 29:13 and Luke records it's the first day of the week, 29:16 so that would be, I believe... this is my personal belief, 29:19 I cannot prove it, but since Paul was a Jew, 29:23 I believe that he was reckoning it according to the Jewish time 29:28 because Paul referred to that as the first day of the week 29:31 would begin on Saturday evening, as soon as the sun went down 29:39 because the Sabbath was from Friday evening 29:42 to Saturday evening, so the first day of the week 29:45 actually when the sun went down on Sabbath, Saturday, 29:48 then the first day of the week began. I agree. 29:51 So what's happening here is... let's get into this because 29:55 it's exciting! 29:56 Verse 8... There were many lamps in the 30:00 upper room where they were gathered together. 30:02 They were meeting in a private house, on the uppermost floor, 30:05 it's the third floor and they've got all these lamps 30:08 to illuminate, it's smoky, it's hazy; 30:11 the air is getting thick and stuffy, and in verse 9 it says.. 30:15 "In a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus. 30:18 I'm sure he probably got over on that window edge because 30:21 he's probably feeling a little ... and he wants some 30:25 fresh air, so he's sitting on the window edge. 30:28 He was sinking into a deep sleep. 30:30 He was overcome by sleep and as Paul continued speaking, 30:33 he fell down - this is Eutychus - fell down from 30:36 the third floor and was taken up dead. 30:40 No if, and or buts about it. This guy is dead. 30:43 So poor Eutychus had nodded off, fallen three floors 30:49 and died, but Paul went down, verse 10 says, 30:52 fell on him... who does this remind you of? 30:55 Elisha and the Shunammite woman, right? 30:58 The Shunammite woman's son, 2 Kings 4. 31:01 So he's embracing him and then he gets up and he says, 31:06 "Do not trouble yourselves for his life is in him." 31:08 This parallels what Peter did with Dorcus going 31:13 in and saying, "Tabitha, I say to you, "Get up." 31:15 It kind of parallels what Jesus did with the widow 31:21 of Nain's son and with Lazarus, and Jarius, etcetera. 31:27 So many people believe that the only reason... 31:33 the only reason that Luke recorded this incident 31:36 is because God performed a miracle through Paul. 31:43 He brought this young man back to life. 31:46 So after he brings him back to life, 31:48 verse 11 says... "Now when he had come up, 31:50 had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, 31:54 even till daybreak he talked, he departed." 31:57 Now either if the first reference was talking about 32:02 having communion... we know for sure this is 32:04 beyond the Lord's Supper, it definitely would be a 32:08 farewell meal and this is rejuvenating Paul for 32:13 his journey, rejuvenating his disciples and then he preaches 32:17 on early Sunday morning, daylight and they brought 32:21 the young man in alive and they were not just a little 32:25 comforted - they were quite happy. 32:28 So other than references to Christ's day of resurrection, 32:32 those five references that call it the first day of the week, 32:35 these are the only other three do you see any, ANY 32:40 inkling that God transferred the Sabbath to the first day. 32:50 Here's what I want to say... 32:52 God created the Sabbath at the end of the creation week. 33:00 It's the only reason we've got a seven-day week cycle. 33:03 He blessed the Sabbath, He sanctified the Sabbath, 33:07 that means He made it Holy and only God can make 33:09 something Holy - we can't make Holy what God 33:12 hasn't made Holy. Right? Right. That's right. 33:14 The Bible commands us to keep the Seventh-day Sabbath. 33:19 It is called the Sabbath of the Lord our God, His Holy day. 33:23 You know what? If God would have intended 33:27 to change it... I mean here we are... 33:28 what, 70 years at least and beyond or 40 years beyond 33:32 Christ's death - Paul is always keeping the Sabbath. 33:35 The disciples were keeping the Sabbath. 33:37 If God intended to CHANGE, if Christ wanted 33:41 to change this, He would have SHOUTED IT from the 33:44 roof top! Absolutely! 33:45 This is part of His Ten Commandment Law 33:50 that is inseparable and James says, "If you break one, 33:53 ya break them all." Praise the Lord! 33:58 That was good! That was rich! 33:59 I have Wednesday's lesson and that is "Miletus." 34:05 And it's interesting because Paul went on a ship 34:11 decided to sail past Ephesus and go to Miletus. 34:19 Ephesus had been where Paul had established contacts 34:25 and connections and relationships and he was 34:29 trying to get to Jerusalem to get to the Day of Pentecost, 34:33 so instead of stopping at Ephesus, he went on to Miletus; 34:39 and from there decided to invite the elders from Ephesus to 34:46 to come and meet with him there. 34:49 So he wouldn't get hung up, you know, in Ephesus 34:52 with all the folks he knew and traveling issues... 34:55 and traveling issues and all, he decided... 34:59 "No, I'll have them come to me." 35:01 So Ephesus was about 38 miles south of Miletus and so 35:10 he being almost - he was headed toward Jerusalem, 35:14 so he decided... "I'm just going to have them come to me." 35:16 So, the elders were summoned to come and meet with Paul there. 35:22 And I think the highlight of his trip to Miletus was 35:27 his meeting with the elders and that meeting can be 35:32 characterized by five words that all start with the letter "A." 35:36 The first one is: "ACCOUNTABILITY" 35:39 So, he's there and he tells the elders, "I served the Lord 35:45 and this is in Acts 20:19, from the first day, 35:50 let's go to 18... from the first day that I came to Asia," 35:53 he tells them, in what manner I've always lived among you, 35:57 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears 36:00 and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews, 36:03 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, 36:06 but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publically 36:08 and from house to house..." and then all the way down 36:12 to verse 26 and 27. 36:15 He said, "Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am 36:18 innocent of the blood of all men, for I have not shunned 36:21 to declare to you the whole counsel of God." 36:24 So, when he was in Ephesus, he didn't hold back anything. 36:29 he shared everything... everything that God told him 36:32 to say, he said, and he was letting them know... 36:35 "this is how I lived when I was among you." 36:38 So, that was "accountability." 36:40 Then in verse 28, it starts with "ADMONITION" 36:45 So he says, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the 36:49 flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you 36:52 overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased 36:56 with His own blood. 36:58 For I know this, that after my departure, savage 37:02 wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock." 37:05 So first he tells them you need to know that you are 37:10 shepherds of the flock and shepherds, of course, 37:14 were always threatened by wolves, right? 37:16 Because their sheep were always being eaten by wolves. 37:20 He's saying, "Be careful because there are some wolves 37:26 that are going to come in and try to tear up this flock." 37:31 So now, we're looking at forces from the outside coming in, 37:36 but there were also internal forces that were going 37:40 to try to tear up the church. 37:42 And he says, in verse 30, "Also from among yourselves, 37:48 men will rise up, speaking perverse things to draw 37:52 away the disciples after themselves." 37:55 And we know that this happened because in 1 Timothy 1:3, 38:03 Paul wrote to Timothy, he said, "As I urged you when I 38:09 went into Macedonia, remain in Ephesus that you may 38:15 charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 38:19 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, 38:22 which cause disputes rather than godly edification 38:26 which is in faith. 38:27 We're down to verse 7... "desiring to be teachers 38:29 of the law, understanding neither what they say 38:33 nor the things which they affirm." 38:35 So Paul was prophesying, letting the Ephesian 38:42 elders know - there's going to be trouble. Amen! 38:46 So, first he was "accountable," then he "admonished" them, 38:50 and then he "affirmed" them. 38:53 These are things that, as Christian leaders, 38:57 everyone is a Christian leader.. if you're a Christian, 39:01 you should be a Christian leader. 39:03 These are things that we should do with people 39:05 that we're dealing with. 39:07 We should show them how we're trying to live, be accountable. 39:11 We should admonish them, let them know 39:14 that they're going to run into difficulties. 39:16 They're going to have problems, but we should 39:19 also affirm them. 39:21 And so he says, in verse 32... "So now, brethren, I commend 39:29 you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able 39:32 to build you up and give you an inheritance among 39:36 all those who are sanctified. 39:39 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel." 39:43 So he is letting them know... he edifies them, 39:47 he lets them know that he's commending them 39:50 to God and to the word of His grace and God 39:53 is able to build them up. 39:55 He is able to sustain them and that's what He does for us 39:59 when we're going through a hard time, 40:03 we can know that God sustains us and we can edify 40:08 those around us and affirm them. 40:10 And then the next "A" is "ACTIVISIM" 40:14 Paul was a tentmaker and when he was in these different 40:22 towns, he didn't just sit back and wait for people to 40:25 take care of him... he used his hands and built 40:28 tents and not only did he take care of himself, 40:31 but he took care of others. 40:33 He says here in verse 34... "Yes, you yourselves 40:37 know that these hands have provided for my necessities, 40:41 and for those who were with me. 40:43 I've shown you in every way, by laboring like this, 40:47 that you must support the weak, and remember the words 40:51 of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give 40:54 than to receive." Amen! Amen! 40:57 And so Paul didn't just, you know, notice that 41:01 there were others in his midst that were in need, 41:04 he used his abilities to help those who were in need, 41:09 to help the weak. 41:10 And so, this is a way that Paul was an "activist." 41:15 And then finally, "AFFECTION" 41:18 Verses 36-38... "And when he had said these 41:22 things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 41:26 Then they all wept freely and fell on Paul's neck 41:30 and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he 41:34 spoke, that they would see his face no more." 41:38 They knew that they weren't going to see him, 41:41 and Paul told them, this is the last time 41:44 I'm going to see you. 41:46 This is the last time we're going to be together. 41:49 And you can imagine the grief that they felt. 41:53 This was their spiritual mentor. 41:55 This was their spiritual father. 41:58 Much like Pastor Murray is a spiritual mentor to me... 42:02 and you can imagine how they felt as he was going 42:08 first re-counting to them what his ministry had been, 42:13 and then letting them know, even though I'm not with you, 42:18 I'm not going to be with you, be prepared, watch, pray, 42:24 be diligent, be vigilant because there are savage 42:28 wolves that are getting ready to come into your midst 42:31 and also there are people from within your ranks 42:35 who are going to try to pull folks away... 42:38 so be vigilant. 42:40 And then, he had to build them up - he wanted to make 42:45 sure that he didn't leave them feeling all sad and aggrieved 42:50 about him not seeing them anymore. 42:53 So he edified them, he built them up, he affirmed them. 42:58 And then he reminded them basically to take care of the 43:01 weak among you - don't just care for yourself and your 43:07 needs, but be concerned about others and what they're 43:11 dealing with and how they're dealing. 43:13 And then "affection," they all hugged and were just 43:20 I'm sure overwhelmed with just missing him already. 43:25 And so, we have in 2 Corinthians 4:8... 43:30 we have... I'll just read a few of these. 43:33 Paul said, "We are hard-pressed on every side, 43:36 yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 43:39 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 43:43 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord 43:46 Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested 43:49 in our body." 43:51 We have... whenever we're going through something, 43:54 we have the Lord Jesus Christ, we are never crushed 43:58 to the point of not being able to make it. 44:01 God is our sustainer! Amen! Amen! 44:04 Well done! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! 44:07 Marvelous! So I've been blessed so far. 44:10 I get to listen to everybody... 44:13 Now we get to listen to you! Laughter! 44:18 Praise the Lord! 44:21 Paul's journey, you read the Book of Acts and you read 44:26 the writings of Paul, he was a true missionary. Amen! 44:29 I mean, he sacrificed, he starved, he was whipped, 44:33 he was beaten, and you can practically say that Satan 44:38 did his best to deter him and discourage him and some 44:43 interesting things happened to Paul that I guess some people 44:46 say... "Man, if this is what it is to be a Christian, 44:48 I'd rather be something else." 44:49 But Paul had been changed; he had been transformed; 44:54 he knew that, as he says, "There is laid up for me 44:59 a crown of life," and so whatever temporal goodness 45:04 he could have accomplished because Saul was in-line 45:08 to be a great man in Israel had he continued doing 45:13 what he was doing, but the Lord had a greater and better 45:17 mission for his life. Amen! 45:19 And so we praise the Lord for what God did through Paul, 45:22 and Saul - converted to Paul. 45:24 I have Thursday's lesson where we talk about 45:28 "Tyre and Caesarea" 45:29 Now, in Acts 19, it says that Paul purposed in his heart, 45:35 purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem and that's 45:41 why he's passing through Tyre and Caesarea. 45:44 So I'd like to read to you from Acts 21 and we're going to go 45:51 and read verses 1-6 and this is what we find... 45:56 "Now it came to pass that when we had departed from 46:00 them and set sail, running a straight course we came 46:04 to Cos, the following day to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 46:09 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, 46:12 we went aboard and set sail. 46:14 When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on and then left 46:18 sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre for there the ship was 46:21 to unload her cargo. 46:23 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. 46:28 They told Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. 46:32 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed 46:35 and went on our way and they all accompanied us 46:38 with wives and children until we were all out of the city, 46:41 and we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 46:46 When we had taken our leave of one another, 46:48 we boarded the ship and they returned home." 46:51 So what happens here is that he arrives at Tyre 46:53 and they understood there was danger for him 46:58 to go to Jerusalem... Well, what was in Jerusalem? 47:01 Wonderful people there! 47:03 Wonderful people there, but among them were Christians, 47:07 and among them were the hierarchy of the church 47:10 basically, and Paul was a wanted man... 47:14 Hierarchy in the synagogue. The synagogue! 47:18 And so, if they had those days where you could put 47:23 "Wanted," you know, Paul's name would have been 47:25 "Wanted," Dead or Alive probably dead and with a 47:30 Reward because what was Paul doing? 47:33 God was using him to convert many people. Yes 47:36 He was a learned man, but he had to un-learn some things. 47:40 And God used him mightily to talk to Greeks and Jews, 47:46 and Gentiles mainly, but people were coming to 47:49 Christ and they were not happy about that... 47:51 well some of the people in Jerusalem. 47:53 So anyway, so they tried to discourage him from going 47:57 to Jerusalem, but Paul felt he had a mission to go to 48:03 Jerusalem, so on he went. 48:05 And now we go to another place that is outlined here 48:08 in Thursday and that is that he goes to a 48:11 place called, "Caesarea." 48:13 When he arrives in Caesarea, I want to set the background 48:15 here because in Caesarea, he finds a gentleman 48:18 by the name of "Agabus" who was a prophet, 48:21 and some time ago... I would like to read this part to you. 48:24 Some time ago, he had made a prophecy and this is found in 48:31 Acts 11:27-30, I would like to ask Pastor C.A. 48:37 if he would help me out, Acts 11:27-30, 48:42 and there, we find something that God has used Agabus to do. 48:48 Acts 11:27-30, could you read that for us please. 48:52 "And in these days, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 48:57 Then one of them named Agabus, stood up and showed by the 49:02 Spirit that there was going to be a great famine 49:05 throughout all the world, which also happened in 49:09 the days of Claudius Caesar. 49:13 Then the disciples, each according to his ability 49:16 determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 49:21 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the 49:25 hands of Barnabas and Saul." Thank you so much. 49:29 So we see that this is the background of Agabus. 49:32 He had said, "There's going to be a famine" 49:33 and there was a famine. 49:36 Now when Agabus meets Paul, something interesting happens 49:41 and now we go to see what happened there. 49:47 And this is Agabus talking in Acts 21 and I'm going 49:53 to read verses 10 and onward. 49:56 So this is what the Bible tells us... 49:59 "And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus 50:03 came down from Judea and when he had come to us, 50:06 he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, 50:10 and said, "Thus saith the Holy Spirit," 50:13 "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns 50:18 this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." 50:22 Well, I don't know - to some people that would send chills 50:25 up their spine... what? 50:27 I better make some new reservations somewhere else. 50:30 Now if Jonah had heard that, what do you think he would do? 50:33 Laughter... no doubt. I'll go somewhere else! 50:35 I'm going somewhere else, but Paul was determined 50:39 to go to Jerusalem. 50:41 He understood the Lord had a mission for him, 50:43 and that's what he decided to do. 50:45 So in Acts 20, I'm going to read verses 22 and onward. 50:51 "And see now, I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, 50:55 not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 50:58 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city 51:02 saying that chains and tribulations await me. 51:06 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life 51:10 dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, 51:16 and the ministry which I received from the Lord 51:19 Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." Amen! Wow! 51:27 Now this is the man that before was persecuting Christians. 51:32 And he was willing to go bound, he was willing to face 51:35 whatever came his way for Jesus Christ. 51:38 He was ready to die for Jesus; this is the guy that was 51:42 killing Christians before. 51:43 Now he's ready to die for Jesus! 51:45 This is the change that God has made in his life. 51:48 He wasn't interested in temporal riches and a life of ease. 51:52 Like Moses - Moses was going to be a great man in Egypt, 51:56 but he rather suffer affliction with the people of God, 51:59 and when you find that there's a greater joy, greater treasure 52:03 in heaven, you're willing to go through anything 52:05 for the sake of the gospel and bringing people 52:08 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 52:10 Now, when the people heard all this... I'll read to you now 52:16 from Acts 21:14... "So when he would not be 52:21 persuaded, we ceased saying, "The will of the Lord be done." 52:29 And so, this is what they were willing to do. 52:34 I would like to read one more Scripture, this is Acts 21:10-14 52:40 Actually, verse 14... verse 12, I think I've read 52:45 some other verses ahead of that. 52:47 "Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that 52:50 place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 52:52 Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and 52:54 breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound 52:58 but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the 53:00 Lord Jesus Christ." 53:01 What was waiting for him in Jerusalem? 53:03 Well some of the Christians there did not understand 53:07 Paul's mission and he was not going to be warmly received. 53:10 He was going to have a cold reception 53:12 from some of the brethren - not as it was in some of these 53:15 places where they embraced them and wept and said, 53:17 "Paul don't go to Jerusalem, please." 53:19 And so we must understand that some day we may encounter 53:23 some difficulty and I would like to read to you from 53:26 Ellen G. White's writing because sometimes we may 53:28 have to face difficulties and face them trusting in Jesus. 53:33 It says in "Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 5, 136," 53:38 "When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, 53:42 when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the 53:46 the warmest, and our courage and firmness 53:47 the most unflinching. 53:50 To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when 53:52 the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord 53:56 when champions are few - - this will be our test. 53:59 At this time, we must gather warmth from the coldness of 54:03 others, courage from their cowardice, 54:05 and loyalty from their treason." 54:07 And so we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and find 54:11 strength in the Lord Jesus Christ. 54:13 Amen! Amen! That's beautiful! 54:15 Thank you so much Brother Johnny. 54:16 What an incredible blessing! 54:17 I have learned and have been edified by each one of you 54:22 and what you have shared. 54:23 As I think about the Apostle Paul, I see a man who 54:26 is obedient to God; a man who has a passion 54:30 for souls and who considers his converts, not his, 54:34 they are from the Lord Jesus Christ, but those that he 54:37 has won to the Lord Jesus Christ as his children. 54:41 He loves them with an undying love. 54:44 We have just a few moments left and I want to give each 54:47 person on the panel an opportunity to either share 54:49 something about your day or about someone else's day 54:53 if you would like... Pastor C.A. 54:54 I am so impressed with the Spirit of God that was in Paul. 54:59 What I am given courage is the fact that God will 55:04 take care of His own and I think one of the great fears 55:07 of so many people today is to step out in faith 55:10 and serve the Lord and to witness for the Lord. Amen! 55:13 We need not fear; you've got your personal 55:15 testimony AND you've got the promise 55:17 that God's Word will not return to Him void. Amen and Amen! 55:22 I think just the take-away that I would like to 55:25 re-emphasize on my day is... There are only eight 55:33 references in the entire New Testament to the first day 55:37 of the week; five are about the same event - telling about the 55:40 women going on resurrection morning to the tomb. 55:43 The other three - one is about the disciples who were 55:49 barred behind the doors for fear of the Jews; 55:53 One was about a special collection that was being 55:56 taken up and then the farewell meeting of Paul. 55:59 And my point is - please understand the Sabbath is 56:03 special to the Lord and He made it for you! Amen! 56:07 God is with us through every situation, through all 56:11 adversity we know that we can trust Him; 56:14 we know that even when we're 56:16 cast down, we're not crushed. 56:18 We can be in despair, but we don't have to be despondent 56:22 because we know that God's got us! Amen! Amen! 56:25 Well I would like to say that, you know, when Paul 56:28 was in Tyre and Caesarea and they tried to discourage him 56:30 from going to Jerusalem, the things that Paul said 56:34 was firmness of faith and that helped him, 56:39 but it also helped the people there. 56:41 Perhaps they were going to face trials and tribulations 56:43 and as they saw Paul WILLING to lay down his life, 56:47 that gave them courage to go forward, 56:49 and we need to hear that from time to time. Amen! Amen! 56:52 Thank you so much Pastor Johnny, Yvonne, Shelley 56:55 and Pastor C.A. for sharing from your heart 56:57 and from the Word of God. 56:58 I want to close with this quote from "Review and Herald, 57:02 May 29, 1900," "Paul was a living example 57:06 of what every true Christian should be. 57:09 He lived for God's glory. 57:12 His heart burned with a love for souls and he gave all 57:15 of his energy for the conversion of men. 57:18 There never lived a more self-denying worker." 57:22 I want to encourage you to accept the Lord Jesus Christ. 57:24 Give your life in service for Him. 57:28 We will see you next time. Bye, bye. |
Revised 2024-08-06